Extraordinary Circumstance.
The Newgate Ghost.
It appears that various spectral appearances took place in Newgate on Thursday night. Several of the criminals were on that night locked up under sentence of death, while the watchmen were stationed as usual, and the doors secured and barred.
At about the midnight hour, Mr Barrett, the Head Keeper of the Prison, was in his room – when his attention was attracted by a loud knocking at his door, as if some one had been beating it with a sledge hammer: the doors being separated from the cells by two large windows, he opened one of them – but, to his astonishment, he could see no one near the place.
On the repetition of the noises, he fearlessly made search, but to no avail.
Shortly after, one of the culprits, a courageous man, who was convicted for horse-stealing, and who was in his cell, was driven into fits by the following circumstance: – He states, that he beheld a ball of fire pass through the gratings of his windows with great force, which struck him with much vehemence on his shoulder; he was much terrified; and, after some time, it assumed the appearance of a horrid ghastly human form, the sight of which deprived him at the moment of his senses – and he gazed on it till it vanished (as he says) “through the key-hole of his cell;” and the place appeared to be in flames.
About the same time, another spectre was seen by one of the watchmen of the prison, and had such an effect that he fainted away.
Here it did not stop its progress: a soldier who was confined in the next cell to the horse-stealer, saw a spectre of the same description – and he was seized with fits of a violent nature in consequence, and continued so for a length of time. He says, that he has been in the field of battle, and frequently slept among the dead – but was never so much frightened in his life; he is now very ill.
To corroborate the above, another watchman, stationed on the top of the prison, asserted, that he saw a ball of fire on the stair-cse, about the time represented by the above persons – and he made oath of it for the satisfaction of the prisoners.
During this time, tremendous blows were repeated at Mr Barrett’s door, and the horse-dealer and soldier were in fits the whole of the night. The former implored not to be put into the same cell – and says, he would rather submit to be double ironed, and have himself chained to the floor, or any other punishment, rather than be put in the cell again. The men are so greatly changed, from the fright they received, that they scarcely look like the same men.
The above circumstance was mentioned to Mr Cotton, the Ordinary of Newgate, who intimated it to Mr Brown.
It is suspected that it is the effect of some trick played off; and, were it not for the assertions of the watchmen, &c., the slightest attention would not be paid to it. However, the circumstance of the men’s change, and their being seized with fits, leave no doubt but the thing occurred; and it is strengthened by depositions on oath.
The following account of this affair was sent by a Correspondent, accompanied with what he calls an explanation; but it cannot be credited that a prisoner under sentence of death should have the liberty of quitting his cell in the night, to amuse his sportive imagination, should he be so inclined. We have a better opinion of Mr Brown’s management than to credit the circumstance: –
“The appearances which so alarmed the prisoners, and which gave rise to so many exaggerated and ridiculous stories among them, are explained. They are now said to have proceeded from the contrivances of a convict of the name of Hay, who had taken it into his head to try whether five men, who had not been afraid to commit robberies day or night, would be afraid of a sound and the light of a candle at night. There are five condemned cells in one passage, in each of which there is a prisoner. At ten o’clock, it is said, when all was dark, Hay entered the passage, knocked at the door of one of the cells, spoke a few words, and thrust a lighted candle through a hole which is just large enough to admit it, and suddenly withdrew it, to the consternation of the inmate, who cried out, “O! Lord have mercy upon us!” He did the same at the doors of the other four cells, and exclamations of fright were heard at each. He then stole away, after having uttered a deep groan, which was echoed from the cells.”
Saunders’s News-Letter, 22nd June 1820.